Hvac zoning devices, systems, and methods

ABSTRACT

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may be controlled by an HVAC control system. The HVAC control system may include a communications block, a controller and a user interface. The communications block may receive sensed data from sensing devices located within spaces of a building. The sensing devices may be located at different spaced sensor locations within the building. The controller may receive the sensed data from the communications block and based, at least in part, on the received sensed, determine recommended setting changes to the HVAC control system. The user interface may display the recommended setting changes to a user.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/015,168, filed Jun. 20, 2014, entitled “HVAC Zoning Devices,Systems, and Methods”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to HVAC systems, and moreparticularly, to HVAC control systems for adjusting HVAC systemsettings.

BACKGROUND

Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems are oftenused to control the comfort level within a building or other structure.Such HVAC systems typically include an HVAC controller that controlsvarious HVAC components of the HVAC system in order to affect and/orcontrol one or more environmental conditions within the building. SuchHVAC controllers typically have a user interface for allowing a user tointeract and the HVAC controller. The user interface is often integralwith the HVAC controller housing, but in some instances, can be remotefrom the HVAC controller, such as when using a user interface of a smartphone, tablet computer, personal computer, laptop etc.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to HVAC systems, and moreparticularly, to HVAC control systems for adjusting HVAC systemsettings.

In one example, an HVAC system of a building may be controlled by anHVAC control system. The HVAC control system may include acommunications block, a controller operatively coupled to thecommunications block, and a user interface operatively coupled to thecontroller. The communications block may receive sensed data from eachof two or more sensing devices located at different spaced locationswithin the building. The controller may receive the sensed data from thecommunications block and based, at least in part, on the received senseddata, determine a recommended setting change to the HVAC control system.The user interface may display the recommended setting change.

In some cases, the HVAC control system may be at least partiallyimplemented on a cloud server configured to communicate with a pluralityof HVAC systems each in a separate building. Each of the plurality ofHVAC systems may include two or more spaced sensing devices and an HVACcontroller for controlling one or more HVAC components of thecorresponding HVAC system. The cloud server may include a communicationsblock, a memory, and a controller. The communications block may receiveHVAC data from each of the plurality of HVAC systems. The HVAC data mayinclude environmental data that is based at least in part on one or moreof the environmental parameters sensed by the two or more spaced sensingdevices of a corresponding HVAC system. The memory may store the HVACdata and the controller may analyze at least part of the received HVACdata stored in the memory and determine a recommended setting change fora first HVAC system of the plurality of HVAC systems. In some cases, thecontroller may output the recommended setting change to a user interfacevia the communications block. The user interface may be located remotelyfrom the cloud server. In operation, the HVAC control system may collectenvironmental sensor data via two or more sensing devices located at twoor more identified locations within a building. Then, the HVAC controlsystem may analyze the collected environmental sensor data inconjunction with the two or more identified locations of the sensingdevices to determine a recommended setting change to the HVAC controlsystem. The recommended setting change may be displayed to a user via auser interface that may be associated with the HVAC control system.

The preceding summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of someof the innovative features unique to the present disclosure and is notintended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the disclosurecan be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, andabstract as a whole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of thefollowing description of various illustrative embodiments in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an illustrative HVAC system servicing abuilding or structure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative register vent;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another illustrative registervent;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative connectionbetween a remote system and a building automation system;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative local device sensingsystem; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of illustrative components of variouslevels of HVAC system configurations.

While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications andalternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of thedisclosure to the particular illustrative embodiments described. On thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

The following description should be read with reference to the drawingswherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout theseveral views. The description and drawings show several embodimentswhich are meant to be illustrative in nature.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a building 2 having an illustrativebuilding automation system 4 with a building automation sub-system 12.While FIG. 1 shows a typical forced air type HVAC system as anillustrative building automation sub-system 12, other buildingautomation sub-systems 12 (e.g., devices or systems at least partiallylocal to a space conditioned by the HVAC system or other buildingautomation sub-systems 12) are contemplated including, but not limitedto, security systems, lighting control systems, water heater systems(e.g., boiler systems), refrigerators, clothes washers, clothes dryers,ovens, garage doors, radiant heating systems, electric heating systems,cooling systems, heat pump systems, register vent systems, any othersuitable sub-system 12 of building automation systems 4, and/or portionsthereof, as desired.

In some instances, the building automation system 4 may include and/orbe in communication with a remote system 36 (see FIG. 4 and descriptionin greater detail below). The remote system 36 may be a system that isremote from one or more components of a building automation controller18 and/or physically remote from the building 2. In some cases, theremote system 36 may, at least partially, reside on one or more serverslocated in the cloud and remote from the building 2, where the one ormore servers may include a memory and a processor configured to executeinstructions stored on the memory and/or stored on other memory.

An HVAC system of building 2 may be controlled by an HVAC control systemimplemented in one or more of a wall mounted thermostat, an equipmentinterface module, a remote system 36 (e.g., cloud server) or otherdevice. The HVAC control system may include a communications block and acontroller operatively coupled to the communications block. Thecommunications block may receive information from the HVAC system andthe controller may receive the information and in response, use theinformation in analyses, to make determinations, to providerecommendations to a user interface, and/or to provide control signalsto the HVAC system. In some cases, the HVAC control system (e.g., abuilding control system) may include a building automation controller18, a remote system 36, and/or other controller.

The illustrative HVAC system of FIG. 1 may include one or more HVACcomponents 6, a system of ductwork and air vents including a supply airduct 10 and a return air duct 14, and one or more building automationcontrollers 18 (e.g., central HVAC controllers, thermostats, etc.),where an HVAC component 6 may provide conditioned air to one or moreHVAC supply air ducts 10. The one or more HVAC components 6 may include,but are not limited to, a fan, a portable electric fan, a ceiling fan, afurnace (e.g., a forced air furnace or other furnace), a boiler, a hotwater heater, a heat pump, an electric heat pump, a geothermal heatpump, an electric heater, a fireplace, a floor heater, an airconditioning unit, a window air conditioning unit, a wall airconditioning unit, hydronic heating and/or cooling unit/components, ahumidifier, a dehumidifier, an air exchanger, an air cleaner, a registervent, a damper, a register vent damper to change air flowcharacteristics of an associated register (e.g., one or more manuallyoperated register vent dampers and/or one or more electronicallycontrolled register vent dampers), a valve, a ventilation unit forbringing in outside air into the building and exhausting inside air fromthe building, UV lamps, air purification systems, air cleaning systems,and/or the like.

In some instances, one or more of the HVAC components 6 (e.g., hydronicheating, electric heating strips, etc.) may be utilized in a stage withone or more other HVAC components 6 (e.g., in a forced air heatingsystem, etc.). In an example, electric heating strips may be a stage ina heat pump system, where the electric heating strips may supplement theheat pump system when outdoor temperatures become too cold.

In some cases, combinations of HVAC components 6 may be used to providequicker response times in reaching a set point than if only a singleHVAC component 6 or system is used. Faster response times may beparticularly noticeable when manually changing the setpoint temperatureor when recovering from a programmed setback temperature, particularlywhen using a hydronic or other heating system that has a slower responsetime.

It is contemplated that a building automation controller(s) 18 may beconfigured to activate, deactivate, and/or otherwise modulate thebuilding automation sub-system(s) 12 (e.g., the HVAC system) orcomponents of the building automation sub-system(s) 12 (e.g., HVACcomponents 6) of the building automation system 4 in a controlled manner(e.g., to control the comfort level in in one or more spaces of thestructure or building 2 and/or otherwise operate electronic features ofthe building 2 and provide suggestions for manual configuration ofmanually adjustable devices). The building automation controller(s) 18may be configured to control the devices of the building automationsystem 4 or building automation sub-systems 12 via a wired or wirelesscommunication link 20.

In some cases, the building automation controller(s) 18 may be or mayinclude a thermostat, such as, for example, a wall mountable thermostator intelligent power switch (e.g., for controlling appliances notequipped with communications capabilities and other appliances), butthis is not required in all instances. An example thermostat may include(e.g. within the thermostat housing), or have access to, a temperaturesensor for sensing an ambient temperature at, near, or spaced from thethermostat and/or other sensors for sensing other comfort levelconditioning parameters (e.g., humidity, occupancy, sound, light,particle levels, etc.). In some instances, the building automationcontroller(s) 18 may be or may include an equipment interface module(EIM), a zone controller, or multiple EIMs or zone controllers eachmonitoring and/or controlling the comfort level within a particular zoneor space (e.g., a comfort level conditioned space) in the building 2 orother structure.

In the illustrative building automation system 4 shown in FIG. 1, theHVAC component(s) 6 (e.g., components of or in communication with thebuilding automation controller 18 or building automation sub-system 12)may provide heated air (and/or cooled air) via the ductwork 10, 14throughout the building 2. As illustrated, the HVAC component(s) 6 maybe in fluid communication with every room and/or zone in the building 2via the ductwork 10 and 14, but this is not required. In operation, whena heat call or command signal is provided by the building automationcontroller(s) 18, an HVAC component 6 (e.g. forced warm air from afurnace) may be activated to supply heated air to one or more roomsand/or zones within the building 2 via supply air ducts 10. The heatedair may be forced through the supply air duct 10 by a blower or fan 21.In this example, the cooler air from each zone may be returned to theHVAC component 6 for heating via return air ducts 14. Similarly, when acool call or command signal is provided by the building automationcontroller(s) 18, an HVAC component 6 (e.g. an air conditioning unit)may be activated to supply cooled air to one or more rooms and/or zoneswithin the building 2 or other structure via supply air ducts 10. Thecooled air may be forced through the supply air duct 10 by the blower orfan 21. In this example, the warmer air from each zone may be returnedto the HVAC component 6 (e.g. air conditioning unit) for cooling viareturn air ducts 14. In some cases, the wired or wireless communicationlink 20 of the building automation system 4 may include an internetgateway (e.g., a modem or other device facilitating a communicationlink) or other device that may allow one or more of the HVAC components6, as described herein, to communicate over a wide area network (WAN)such as, for example, the Internet, and/or a device (e.g., wired orwireless communication link 20) that may allow one or more HVACcomponents 6 to communicate over any other network.

In many instances, one or more air filters 23 may be used to remove dustand other pollutants from the air inside the building 2. In theillustrative example shown in FIG. 1, the air filter(s) 23 are installedin the return air duct 14, and may filter the air prior to the airentering the HVAC component 6, but it is contemplated that any othersuitable location for the air filter(s) 23 may be used. The presence ofthe air filter(s) 23 may not only improve the indoor air quality, butmay also protect the HVAC components 6 from dust and other particulatematter that would otherwise be permitted to enter the HVAC component 6.

In some cases, the system of vents or ductwork 10 and/or 14 may includeone or more dampers 24 to regulate the flow of air through the vent, butthis is not required. The dampers 24 may be positioned along theductwork 10 and/or 14 at any location. One or more active dampers 24 maybe coupled (e.g., in a wired or wireless manner) to one or more HVACcontroller(s) 18, EIMs, or zone controllers and may be coordinated withthe operation of one or more HVAC components 6. The one or more HVACcontroller(s) 18 may actuate active dampers 24 to an opened position, aclosed position, and/or to a position between the opened position andclosed position (e.g., a partially opened position) to modulate the flowof air from the one or more HVAC components 6 to an appropriate roomand/or zone in the building 2 or other structure. The dampers 24 may beparticularly useful in zoned HVAC systems, and may be used to controlwhich zone(s) receive(s) conditioned air from the HVAC component(s) 6.

In some instances, register vents 26 may include one or more ventdampers 30 located at or adjacent a position which air or fluid exitsthe ductwork 10 and enters a conditioned space to control delivery ofthe conditioned air from the one or more supply air duct 10 into thebuilding 2. The register vents 26 may include one or more manuallyoperated register vents 26 with manually operated vent damper 30 a (seeFIG. 2) and/or one or more electronically controlled active registervents 26 with an electronically operated vent damper 30 b (see FIG. 3).In some cases, the register vents 26 may be manually operated andelectronically operated.

Illustratively, the register vents 26 may be utilized in any manner tofacilitate comfort level conditioning in one or more spaces. In someinstances, the register vents 26 may be utilized to form one or morezones in a comfort level conditioned space. For example, the registervents 26 may be utilized to create one or more zones in the conditionedspace even though, to that point, the HVAC system was not a zonedsystem. Alternatively, or in addition, register vents 26 may be utilizedto create one or more further zones or one or more sub-zones in an HVACsystem that is already configured to be at least partially zoned. Asshown in FIG. 1, a building 2 may include a plurality of zones (e.g.,zone 1, zone 2, and zone 3, or any other number of zones) with at leastone sensor (e.g., a sensor at or of a building automation controller 18,a local sensor 34 (see below), or other sensor) in each zone. In somecases, each zone may include one or more electronically controllableregister vent dampers 30 b, such that the building automation controller18 or other controller may be able to control the first zone differentlyfrom the second zone. Although the HVAC system in FIG. 1 for building 2may be configured to include three zones, register vents 26 may beincluded in the HVAC system to provide additional or alternate controlover the flow of fluid through the ductwork of the HVAC system andconditioned spaces of the building 2. For example, when a room or zonehas a plurality of registers (e.g., locations where fluid from ductwork10 enters a room or zone), register vents 26 may be utilized to createsubzones within a zone, such as zones 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, as shownseparated by dotted lines in FIG. 1, by allowing a user and/or acontroller (e.g., one or more building automation controller 18, one ormore controller at the register vents 26, and/or other controller) toclose and/or open vent dampers 30 at the register vents 26 (e.g.,manually and/or electronically open and/or close vent dampers 30).

As mentioned, each zone of a building (e.g., building 2) may include atleast one sensor. In some instances, a sensor (e.g., a local sensor 34)may be associated with each register vent 26, but this is not required.In some cases, a sensor may be associated with two or more registervents 26 (such as two register vents located in the same zone).Alternatively, or in addition, a sensor may be associated with thebuilding automation controller 18 and/or may be a remote sensor incommunication with the building automation controller 18. The sensorsmay be configured to sense one or more environmental parameters and maybe in communication with a local controller or other mechanism forcommunicating the sensed parameter to a device configured to adjustand/or monitor comfort level conditioning settings of the buildingautomation system 4 (e.g., the HVAC system of building 2).

Register vents 26 may include a vent 28 configured to receive fluid flowfrom a building automation sub-system 12 (e.g., fan 21, a furnace, anair conditioner, etc. of an HVAC system) and a manually operated ventdamper 30 a, as best shown in FIG. 2. The vent 28 may be in fluidcommunication with the ductwork 10 and the fluid traveling through theductwork 10 may exit the ductwork through the vent 28. Where theductwork 10 has a proximal end at an end adjacent a comfort levelconditioned space and a distal end at an HVAC component 6 of a buildingautomation sub-system 12, the manually operated vent damper 30 a may bepositioned proximal and/or distal of the vent 28. In some cases, themanually operated vent damper 30 a may be mechanically coupled to thevent 28 to form a register vent 26 and/or the manually operated ventdamper 30 s.

In some instances, one or more register vents 26 of a plurality ofregister vents 26 of a conditioned space may be manually operated.Manually operated register vents 26 may be manually adjusted by a userby manually adjusting a mechanism to open and/or close a vent damper 30with respect to an associated vent 28. Alternatively, or in addition,adding a manually operated vent damper 30 a to a vent 28 may form amanually adjustable register vent 26.

In some cases, when a manually operable vent damper 30 a is added to avent 28, the vent damper 30 may be a magnetic sheet that is mechanicallyand/or electrically connected to a proximal side or distal side of thevent 28 and/or other vent damper 30 mechanism that may be mechanicallyconnected to the vent 28. Manually operated register vents 26 refer toregister vents 26 that include a manually operated vent damper 30 awhich may be manually adjusted by a user to control flow of fluidthrough an associated vent 28. In some instances, the manually operatedregister vents 26 may include a local controller and/or a local sensorfor sensing environmental parameters, but this is not required.

In some instances, but not all, electronically controlled register vents26 may include one or more of a vent 28, an electronically controlledvent damper 30 b, an actuator 31, a local controller 32, acommunications port or block 33 having a wired or wireless interface forcommunicating with the HVAC control system and/or other register vents26, and/or a local sensor 34. An electronically controlled register vent26 may be a register vent 26 that is capable of being selectively and/orautomatically controlled by a controller (e.g. a local controller 32, abuilding automation controller 18, a remote system 36 and/or othercontroller).

When a register vent 26 includes a local sensor 34 or other sensor, itmay be considered a sensing device. The local controller 32 of theregister vent may be in communication with a building automationcontroller 18 other controller of the HVAC control system viacommunications port or block 33 of the register vent 26 and/or or othercommunications port or block (e.g., communications port or block 42, 44)having a wired or wireless interface and may be electronicallycontrolled from the building automation controller 18 or other device orsystem in communication with the building automation controller 18. Ininstances when a plurality of electronically controlled register vents26 are included in a building automation system 4, positions (e.g., anopened position, a closed position, or positions therebetween) of theelectronically controlled vent dampers 30 b with respect to the vents 28of the electronically controlled register vents 26 may be controlled bythe building automation controller 18 and/or any other controllerincluding, but not limited to, the local controllers 32 at the registervent 26, and/or any device or system connected thereto.

Illustratively, the local sensor 34 of a register vent 26 associatedwith an electronically controlled register vent damper 30 b may senseone or more local conditions in the building and the local controller 32of the register vent 26 may communicate or issue one or more requests tothe building automation controller 18 or other controller of the HVACcontrol system for conditioned air or other request of the HVAC system.In response to receiving the request, a controller of the HVAC controlsystem may be configured to determine a setting (e.g., damper setting)for the electronically controlled register vent damper 30 b andcommunicate the determined setting for the electronically controlledregister vent damper 30 b via the communications block of the HVACcontrol system to a user interface (e.g., user interface 46), to thelocal controller 32 of the register vent 26, and/or to one or more otherdevice of the HVAC system or HVAC control system. The controller of theHVAC control system may determine which HVAC component(s) 6 should beactive, if any, and provide one or more control signals to that HVACcomponent 6 to activate or keep active that HVAC component 6.

In some cases, the local controllers 32 may be in communication with oneanother to facilitate zone or sub-zone synchronization and/oroptimization. In such instances, each local controller 32 may set aposition of an associated vent damper 30 electronically in view of otherset positions of other vent dampers 30 associated with other localcontrollers 32. In some instances, the local controllers 32 and/or othercontrollers in communication with the vent dampers 30 may consider thestate of manually operated register vents 26, electronically operatedregister vents 26, vents 28 without vent dampers 30, and/or input fromcontrollers (e.g., building automation controllers 18 or othercontrollers) of the building automation system 4 in addition to or otherthan the local controllers 32.

The local controllers 32 may be configured to have one-way or two-waycommunication with the building automation controller(s) 18 and/or aremote system 36 via communications port or block 33. In instances ofone-way communication with the building automation controller(s) 18and/or remote system 36, the local controllers 32 may communicatepositions of the vent dampers 30, sensed parameters at or about theregister vent 26, and/or other information to the building automationcontroller(s) 18 and/or the remote system 36. Alternatively, the localcontrollers 32 having one-way communication with the building automationcontroller(s) 18 and/or remote system 36 may receive positioningcommands for the vent dampers 30 and/or other information from thebuilding automation controller(s) 18 and/or the remote system 36. Ininstances of two-way communication with the building automationcontroller(s) 18 and/or the remote system 36, the local controllers 32may communicate positions of the vent dampers 30, sensed parameters ator about the register vents 26, and/or other information to the buildingautomation controller(s) 18 and/or the remote system 36, and the localcontrollers 32 may receive positioning commands for the vent dampers 30and/or other comfort level conditioning information/commands from thebuilding automation controller(s) 18 and/or the remote system 36. In oneexample of communication between the register vents 26 and the buildingautomation controller 18, the register vents 26 may be configured tocall for conditioning (e.g., heating and/or cooling) of an associatedspace (e.g., a zone or sub-zone), call for fan 21 operation, call forhumidification, call for dehumidification, call for air purification,and/or call for operation of one or more other pieces of equipment.

Control of the register vents 26 may be centralized at the buildingautomation controller 18, at any other controller in the building 2(e.g., including, but not limited to, one of the local controllers 32),and/or at the remote system 36. When register vents 26 are centrallycontrolled, the building automation controller 18, other controller,and/or the remote system 36 may be able to control comfort levelconditioning in a calculated manner (e.g., keep at least 10%-70%,20%-60%, 30%-50%, or other range of vent dampers 30 in an open position)due to the knowledge of how much fluid is passing to one or morelocations and at what time that fluid is reaching one or more locationswithin a comfort level controlled space. Illustratively, a buildingautomation controller 18 or other controller that centrally controls theregister vents 26 may take into consideration vent damper 30 positionsettings of manually controlled register vents 26, along with positionsettings of electronically controlled register vents 26. Understandingthe positioning of all of the vent dampers 30, if any, associated withvents 28 in a comfort level conditioned space allows the buildingautomation controller 18 or other central controller to apply comfortlevel conditioning settings for the building automation system 4 in viewof an amount of fluid calculated to be reaching one or more locations ofa space or zone. Keeping some minimum percentage of the vent dampersopen may also help prevent excessive load on the fan 21 of the HVACsystem servicing the building.

As discussed, and in some instances, a register vent 26 may include oneor more local sensors 34. The local sensors 34 may be configured tosense one or more parameters related to setting a comfort level in theconditioned space and store and/or communicate the sensed parameters viathe local controller 32. In one example, the local sensors 34 may beconfigured to sense one or more of a temperature, physicaloccupancy/presence, changes in temperature, humidity levels, changes inhumidity level, air quality levels or conditions (e.g., particle count,light, volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration or levels, CO2concentration or levels, etc.), changes in air quality levels orconditions, sound through or around the register vents 26, vibrations,voice patterns, pressure, flow, and/or any other suitable sensedparameters. In some instances, the local sensors 34 and the localcontrollers 32 may be separate components or may be part of a singlecomponent.

In response to sensing one or more parameters with a sensing device ofthe building automation system 4, the local controllers 32, the buildingautomation controllers 18, and/or the remote system 36 may take one ormore actions to adjust a comfort level conditioning level within one ormore particular spaces. In one example of using sensed parameters toadjust a comfort level within one or more particular spaces, a sensingdevice may provide a measurement of one or more sensed air qualityconditions (e.g., particle count, light, volatile organic compound (VOC)concentration or levels, CO2 concentration or levels, etc.) to acontroller and the controller may determine settings for one or more airquality components (e.g., UV lamps, air purification systems, aircleaning systems, air exchangers, etc.) of the HVAC components 6 in thebuilding automation system 4 based, at least in part, on the providedmeasurements of sensed air quality conditions.

As discussed in greater detail below, the HVAC control system may saveor store values of sensed parameters in a remote system 36 (e.g., in acloud server) and, in some cases, control one or more HVAC components 6and/or register vent dampers 30 based, at least in part, on storedvalues of the sensed environmental parameters. Additionally, oralternatively, the HVAC control system may be configured to receive arequest for data related to the sensed parameters and provide (e.g., toa user interface) a report for the data related to the sensed parametersbased, at least in part, on the stored values of the sensed parameter.

The local controllers 32, the building automation controllers 18, and/orthe remote system 36 may utilize outputs of a local sensor 34 as aprimary sensed parameter for controlling comfort level conditioning of aspace, as an averaged sensed parameter that is used in conjunction withother outputs of local sensors 34 and/or other sensors to controlcomfort level conditioning of a space, as a sensed zone parameter forcontrolling comfort level conditioning of a particular zoned orsub-zoned space, and/or as a sensed parameter for other comfort levelconditioning. Such use of local sensors 34 at register vents 26 mayfacilitate dividing a comfort level conditioned space into zones (e.g.,macro-zones) and/or sub-zones (e.g., micro-zones), identifyingtemperature gradients across a comfort level conditioned space and/orzones to optionally identify further zoning opportunities, improving anaccuracy of a sensed parameter from a user comfort level perspective fora comfort level conditioned space by averaging a plurality of sensedparameters sensed by the local sensors 34, and/or may facilitateproviding other functions and/or benefits.

In some instances, the local sensors 34 or other sensors may sense whensomeone is present in a comfort level conditioned space and applysettings for the comfort level conditioned space associated with a“space occupied” profile or other profile. In other similar or differentinstances, the local sensors 34 may be configured to sense when aparticular individual is present in a comfort level conditioned spaceand apply settings for the comfort level conditioned space associatedwith that particular individual's profile saved in a memory of one ormore of the local controller 32, the building automation controller 18,and the remote system 36. The local sensors 34 may identify particularindividuals in any manner, including but not limited to, sensing anindividual's biometrics, sensing an individual's voice, sensingvibrations caused by an individual advancing through a space, sensing anidentification tag carried by the individual (e.g. RFID tag, cell phone,etc.), and/or other identifying techniques. Additionally, oralternatively, the local sensors 34 or other sensors may sense otherparameters and/or apply one or more comfort level conditioning profilesas determined by a preset or predefined program of the HVAC system.

In some instances, a controller of or in communication with the HVACsystem may be capable of identifying one or more local devices 56 (seeFIG. 5) in the building 2 via a communications block or port (e.g.,wireless communications port or block 54 or other communications blockor port). In one example, a building automation controller 18 may beconfigured to identify and/or detect one or more devices (e.g., localdevices 56) local to a space of which the building automation controller18 at least partially controls the comfort level conditioning. In somecases, the building automation controller 18 or other controller may beable to control one or more of the local devices 56. A local device 56may be, but is not limited to, controllable or uncontrollable non-HVACcomponents such as an appliance, an oven, a stove, a window, a windowtreatment, a refrigerator, a cooler, a freezer, an iron, a grill, a roomfan, an air freshener, a portable dehumidifier, a portable humidifier,and/or other indoor devices or goods that may have an effect on comfortlevel conditioning of a space. In some instances, a local device 56 maybe an auxiliary environmental parameter control device including, butnot limited to, a window air conditioning unit, a wall air conditioningunit, a portable electric heater, an electric fireplace, a portableelectric fan, a ceiling fan, an electric floor heater, and so on.

A building automation controller 18 (e.g., a thermostat or othercontroller), as depicted in FIG. 5, may include a processor 48 andmemory 50. In some cases, a device controller 52 (e.g., including memoryand a processor—not shown) including or in communication with a wirelesscommunications port or block 54 may be included in the buildingautomation controller 18 as a sub-controller of the building automationcontroller 18 or other feature thereof.

Additionally, or alternatively, the device controller 52 may be locatedexterior the building automation controller 18 and may be incommunication with the building automation controller 18 via a wired orwireless connection. The device controller 52 of or in communicationwith the building automation controller 18 may be configured toautomatically or upon request sense via a wired connection or throughthe wireless communication port or block 54 (e.g., over one or morewireless protocols, including, but not limited to, cellularcommunication, IEEE 802.11, ZigBee, REDLINK™, Bluetooth, WiFi, IrDA,dedicated short range communication (DSRC), EnOcean, and/or any othersuitable common or proprietary wireless protocol, as desired) one ormore local devices 56 and/or actions taken thereby. The devicecontroller 52 may be configured to automatically or upon request sense alocal device 56, sense an action taken thereby through detecting one ormore changes in environmental parameters, and/or send a control signalto the local device 56. In such instances, the device controller 52 maybe in communication with the local sensors 34 or other sensors of theHVAC system to receive environment parameter data. Through analyses ofchanges in the received environmental parameter data, the devicecontroller 52 may identify the presence of a local device 56 and/or anaction taken thereby. In some cases, the device controller 52 may detecta presence of a local device 56 via a wired or wireless communicationand the device controller 52 may identify an action taken by a localdevice 56 via analysis of environmental parameter data. In one example,the device controller 52 may analyze data received from a local sensor34 adjacent a stove and may determine when the data from the localsensor 34 is indicating a rise in temperature. From the identificationof the rise in temperature, the device controller 52 may identify thestove has taken a heating action and indicate that action taken to theprocessor 48 of the building automation controller 18. In response, thebuilding automation controller 18 may set a vent damper 30 of a registervent 26 adjacent the space in which the stove is located to an openedposition to cool the space and/or take other actions to compensate forthe identified action taken by the stove.

When the device controller 52 detects that a local device 56 has takenan action or has been caused to make an action, the device controller 52may provide a signal to the processor 48 of the building automationcontroller 18. In response to receiving a signal from the devicecontroller 52 indicating a local device is taking or has made an action,the building automation controller 18 may, via a user interface 46(e.g., the user interface 46 may be, but is not limited to one or moreof, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a thermostat screen, a voice control system, and otherinterfaces), suggest an adjustment to, or may automatically adjust, anenvironmental parameter set point of one or more HVAC components 6conditioning a particular space or particular zone. In one instance, thebuilding automation controller 18 may be configured to adjust a positionsetting of a vent damper 30 of one or more register vents 26 adjacentthe space in which the local device 56 is located in response to thedevice controller 52 detecting one or more of a local device 56 and anaction taken or made by the detected local device 56.

In some cases, the device controller 52 may be configured to detect oneor more auxiliary environmental parameter control devices (e.g., aportable heater, a window air conditioner, or space conditioning devicenot directly controlled by the building automation controller 18). Inresponse to detection of one or more of the auxiliary environmentalparameter control devices and communication of the detection to theprocessor 48 of the building automation controller 18, the buildingautomation controller 18 may be configured to adjust a position settingof a vent damper 30 of one or more register vents 26 and/or adjust oneor more other settings. In some instances, the device controller 52 mayreceive a status signal from the auxiliary environmental parametercontrol device indicating a setting thereof (e.g., on/off, hi/low, level1 or 2 or 3, etc.), and the building automation controller 18 may adjusta position of vent damper 30 of one or more register vents 26 and/orother settings to account for the setting of the auxiliary environmentalparameter control device and maintain proper comfort level conditioningin a space. In some cases, the device controller 52 may change a settingof the auxiliary environmental parameter control device, such as turn onor off the auxiliary environmental parameter control device.

In some cases, the local sensors 34 and/or other sensors of the buildingautomation system 4 that may be configured to sense one or moreparameters of a comfort level conditioned space and may communicate thesensed parameters to the remote system 36 via one or more operablycoupled local controllers 32 and/or the building automation controller18 through the use of an operably coupled local communications port orblock 44, as best shown in FIG. 4. Illustratively, the remote system 36and/or the building automation controller 18 may include a memory 38 anda processor 40, where the memory 38 or other memory may store dataobtained from the sensors of the building automation system 4, otherdata from users, and/or instructions executable by the processor 40 toanalyze and/or configure the data obtained from the sensors of thebuilding automation system 4 and/or configure other data obtained from auser. The memory 38 and/or other memory discussed herein may benon-transitory computer readable media. In one instance, the processor40 may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 38 orother memory to perform thermodynamic analyses, model development, HVACconfiguration development, and/or other analyses using the data and/orinformation received from the building automation system 4 andadditionally or alternatively configure the data and/or results of theanalyses for communication to a user interface 46 of or in communicationwith the building automation system 4. The user interface 46 may beconfigured to communicate with controllers (e.g., the remote system 36(e.g., cloud server), the local controller 32, the building automationcontroller 18, and/or other controllers) of or in communication with theHVAC system to obtain and/or receive analyses from one or more of thecontrollers based on data received from the local sensors 34 and/orother data. The obtained and/or received analyses may be of dataspecific to one or more particular zones or sub-zones and/or to anyportion of or an entirety of the space that is conditioned with thebuilding automation system 4. Illustratively, the controllers of theHVAC system of a building 2 may monitor the thermodynamics of differentareas of the building 2. Such monitoring may include tracking heat gainand/or loss of each zone independently of other zones, which may allowthe controllers to send to the user interface 46 suggested positionsettings for vent dampers 30 that may impact a rate of heating orcooling of a particular conditioned space of a building 2. Thepositioning of vent dampers 30 according to suggested position settingsmay facilitate establishing more even temperatures throughout a buildingbecause different spaces/zones/sub-zones throughout a building 2 mayreach a set temperature at a more similar time, rather than at differenttimes, which is often the case when all of the vent dampers 30 are setto the fully open position.

In addition, or as an alternative, to obtained and/or received analysesof data from local sensors 34, the obtained and/or received analyses ata user interface 46 may take into account data for area conditioningparameters of a plurality of HVAC systems, sizes of the vents 28 of theregister vents 26, and/or sizes of the vent dampers 30 of the registervents 26. In some cases, the plurality of HVAC systems may be located ina single building or in one or more buildings about or around a subjectbuilding 2 (e.g., buildings in a neighborhood, on a same city block,etc.). In one example, the remote system 36 may be configured to monitorhomes (e.g., buildings 2) in a community and track the impact ofsuggested changes to positions of vent dampers 30 and/or suggestedchanges to other HVAC components 6 on the operation of HVAC systems orthermodynamics in those homes. The remote system 36 may then compare thesuggested changes of similar type, sized, geographically positioned,and/or geographically oriented homes to one another to determinesuccessful changes. The successful changes may then be tracked over timeand suggested to other users of the remote system 36 in response toenvironmental season changes, solar strength changes, humidity levelchanges, and/or other changes. In some cases, analyses obtained and/orreceived by the user interface 46, may include recommendations forconfiguring one or more HVAC components 6 of an HVAC system.Illustratively, the recommendations may include one or more zoningrecommendations, register vent 26 setting recommendations, temperatureset point (or temperature program schedule) recommendations, etc., fromthe remote system 36, the local controllers 32, the building automationcontrollers 18, and/or other controllers.

The one or more zoning recommendations may, as discussed in furtherdetail below, be developed based at least partially on sensedconditioning parameters of an area to be comfort level conditionedand/or data for sensed conditioning parameters of areas to be comfortlevel conditioned by one or more other HVAC systems (e.g., HVAC systemsin buildings other than a subject building 2) received through acommunications port or block (e.g., communications port or block 42and/or communications port or block 44). Zoning recommendations mayinclude general instructions or suggestions on how to zone a building 2,how to manually set zones, how to modify an existing zone to createsub-zones, when to modify an existing zone, how to set vent dampers 30of register vents, and/or other instructions. In one example of abuilding automation system 4 obtaining instructions, the remote system36, local controller 32, the building automation controller 18, and/orother controller may provide an instruction to one or more registervents 26 (e.g., an electronically controlled register vent) to adjust avent damper 30 for the purpose of improving the efficiency ofestablishing a desired comfort level conditioning setting or for otherbuilding conditioning-related purposes in response to obtaining orreceiving the analyses from a controller of the HVAC system based, atleast in part, on sensed data from local sensors 34 or other sensors. Insome cases, the instruction to one or more register vents 26 may beprovided to improve uniformity of temperature between spaced sensorlocations, between spaced register vent locations, register damperslocations and/or generally within a space, to allow at least a minimumair flow from the HVAC system to help protect the HVAC system fromdamage, to maintain at least a minimum number of register vent dampers30 in an open state, and/or for one or more other purposes. Anindication of the provided instruction may be sent to the user interface46 to alert a user of the instruction. In some cases, the controller ofthe HVAC system may be optionally and/or selectively set toautomatically provide an instruction to one or more register vents 26 toadjust its vent damper 30 in response to a received recommendationand/or the controller may be optionally or selectively set to require aconfirmation from a user at the user interface 46 before sending aninstruction to one or more register vents 26 to adjust its vent damper30. In some cases, an instruction may be sent to one or more registervents 26 for execution, and nothing may be sent to the user interface.

The user interface 46 or other user interface may be configured toindicate and/or display one or more suggestions or recommendations froma controller of the HVAC control system for manually setting positionsof vent dampers 30 (e.g., a manually adjustable register vent dampers 30a) of one or more register vents 26 based, at least in part, on senseddata received from local sensors 34 or other sensors. The one or moresuggestions may be obtained from one or more controllers of or incommunication with the HVAC system of a building 2 (e.g., thecontrollers may include one or more of the remote system 36, the localcontroller 32, the building automation controller 18, and/or othercontroller). The controllers of the HVAC system of the building 2 maybase the suggestions for manually setting positions of the vent dampers30 a at least partially on either or both of area conditioningparameters sensed by a sensor of the HVAC system and data related toconditioning parameters of one or more HVAC systems in a similargeographic region as a subject HVAC system.

As referred to above, the HVAC system of building 2 may include aplurality of register vents 26, where all of the plurality of registervents 26 are electronically controlled, all of the plurality of registervents 26 are manually controlled, and/or a portion of the plurality ofregister vents 26 are electronically controlled and a portion of theregister vents 26 are manually controlled. In instances where theplurality of register vents 26 include one or more manually controlledregister vents 26, a controller of or in communication with the HVACsystem may suggest to the user a setting for a manually operatedregister vent 26 (e.g., a position setting for a manually operated ventdamper 30 a) to improve uniformity of temperature between spaced sensorlocations, between spaced register vent locations, register damperslocations and/or generally within a space, to allow at least a minimumair flow from the HVAC system to help protect the HVAC system fromdamage, to maintain at least a minimum number of register vent dampers30 in an open state, and/or for one or more other purposes. In instanceswhere the plurality of register vents 26 include one or moreelectronically controlled register vents 26, a controller of or incommunication with the HVAC system may suggest a setting for anelectronically operated register vent 26 (e.g., a position setting foran electronically controllable vent damper 30 b). In instances where theplurality of register vents 26 include both manually controlled registervents and electronically controlled register vents 26, a controller ofor in communication with the HVAC system may suggest a setting for amanually operable register vent 26 and may request authorization toautomatically set the position of the electronically operable registervents 26.

In response to receiving a suggestion at the user interface 46 forposition settings of vent dampers 30 of the register vents 26, a usermay, in some cases, be presented with an option to accept thesuggestion, reject the suggestion, or modify the suggestion via the userinterface 46. When the register vents 26 include both electronicallycontrolled and manually controlled vent dampers 30 a, the user interface46 may provide or display options to accept the suggestion, reject thesuggestion, or modify the suggestion with respect to the electronicallyoperable vent dampers 30 b, the manually operable vent dampers 30 a, orboth.

When the register vents 26 have manually operable vent dampers 30 a, auser may accept, reject, or modify the position setting suggestion forthe manually operable vent dampers 30 a and then either manually adjustthe manually operable vent dampers 30 a according to the suggestion orthe modified suggestion, or do nothing in the event the suggestion wasrejected. After the user has made a selection or confirmation at theuser interface 46 with respect to acceptance, rejection, or modificationof the suggested position setting for the vent dampers 30, one or morecontrollers of the HVAC system may monitor heat gain and/or loss, orother parameter, to determine whether the user positioned the ventdampers 30 consistent with accepting, rejecting, or modifying thesuggested position setting of the vent dampers 30. If no change in heatgain and/or loss, or other parameter, is realized by the controller ofor in communication with the HVAC system, the controller may determineno changes were made (which may be consistent with rejecting a suggestedvent damper 30 position setting) or that the changes made had no impact.Identification by the controller of or in communication with the HVACsystem of either situation may prompt the controller to recommend thechanges again or recommend new changes to the system to try and impactthe comfort level conditioning in a space in a desirable manner.Alternatively, the controller may recognize that a user is notinterested in obtaining instructions, and refrain from providing furthersuggestions of position settings for vent dampers 30 for a selected ordefault period of time.

When the register vents 26 have electronically operable vent dampers 30b, a user may accept, reject, or modify the position setting suggestionfor the electronically operable vent dampers 30 b and then, in response,the controller(s) of or in communication with the HVAC system mayautomatically effect the position settings of the vent dampers 30.Alternatively, the controllers of or in communication with the HVACsystem may automatically effect any suggestion and provide aconfirmation to the user interface 46 of such changes to the positionsettings of the vent dampers 30. After a suggestion has beenimplemented/accepted, rejected, or modified, one or more controllers ofthe HVAC system may monitor heat gain and/or loss, or other parameter,as discussed above, to determine the effect of the modification of thevent damper position setting on sensed comfort level parameters in theconditioned space. The controller(s) of or in communication with theHVAC system may learn from the monitoring which vent damper 30 positionsettings may be effective and which are not as effective for improvingthe operation of the HVAC system over time.

When either or both electronically operable vent dampers 30 b andmanually operable vent dampers 30 a are included in a buildingautomation system 4, the controllers of or in communication with theHVAC system may take into consideration whether a user accepted,rejected, or modified one or more of the suggested position settings foreither or both of the manually operable vent dampers 30 a and theelectronically operable vent dampers 30 b. For example, if the suggestedposition settings for the manually operable vent dampers 30 a arerejected and the position settings for the electronically operable ventdampers 30 b are accepted, the controller(s) of or in communication withthe HVAC system may modify the suggested position settings taking intoaccount the lack of desire on the part of a user to change the positionsettings of the manually operable vent dampers 30 a.

The HVAC system may store an indicator of vent damper settings orpositions of one or more of the vent dampers 30 in memory 38 or othermemory. Additionally or alternatively, the HVAC system may store datasensed by the local sensors 34 or other sensors, sensor locations of thelocal sensors 34 or other sensors within the building 2, an indicator ofregister vent 26 locations within the building 2, an indicator ofregister vent damper 30 locations within the building 2, thermodynamicproperties of the building 2, historical sensed data, and/or otherbuilding automation system 4 information. The building automationcontroller 18 or other controller may determine recommended settings fordevices of or related to the HVAC system (e.g., one or more manuallyadjustable register vent dampers 30 a, etc.) and/or may control deviceof or related to the HVAC system (e.g., one or more electronicallycontrollable register vent dampers 30 b, etc.) based, at least in part,on the received sensed data, the stored indicators of the sensorlocations, the stored indicators of register vent 26 locations withinthe building 2, the stored indicators of register vent damper 30locations within the building 2, analyses of thermodynamic properties ofthe building 2, historical sensed data, other building automation system4 information, and/or similar or dissimilar HVAC related data from eachof a plurality of HVAC systems.

The building automation controller 18 or other controller (e.g., acontroller of the remote system 36) may use stored or other buildinginformation (e.g., as discussed above) to make and/or implementrecommendations including setting changes to the building automationsystem 4 and display those recommendations via a user interface. In oneexample, operation of an HVAC control system may include collectingenvironmental sensor data via two or more sensing devices located at twoor more identified locations within a building. Then, analyzing thecollected environmental sensor data in conjunction with the two or moreidentified locations of the sensors providing the data to determinerecommended HVAC component 6 setting changes, if any, based at leastpartially on the sensed and/or stored data (e.g., collected data) anddisplaying the recommended setting changes to a user via a userinterface that may be associated with the HVAC control system. If nochanges are recommended, an indication that no changes were identifiedmay be displayed on the user interface.

In one case, recommended setting changes and/or setting changes based onthe sensed and/or stored data may include a manual adjustment to one ormore manually adjustable register dampers, an adjustment to one or moreelectronically controllable register dampers, a suggestion toincorporate an electronically controllable register damper in thebuilding at a particular location, an adjustment to a fan setting of theHVAC system (e.g., changing a mode of the fan between an on mode (e.g.,the fan is always running when in this mode), an off mode (e.g., the fanis never runs while in this mode), an auto mode (e.g., when in thismode, the fan runs while the furnace, air conditioner, or other forcedair HVAC component is running), a circulate mode (e.g., when in thismode, the fan runs according to a set schedule or a set percentage ofthe time in addition to running when the furnace, air conditioner, orother forced air HVAC component is running), and/or other modes) and/orother HVAC related recommendations. Such recommended setting changesand/or setting changes may facilitate optimizing a flow of air through abuilding to adjust a comfort level in the building and/or a specifiedzone, sub-zone, or area of the building.

In one example of using stored building automation system 4 information,the building automation controller 18 or other controller may beconfigured to make macro-zone and/or micro-zone adjustments and/orrecommendations. When a building is zoned by floors, for example, thebuilding automation controller 18 may be configured to maintain a firstcomfort level in a first macro zone of a first floor and a secondcomfort level in a second macro zone of a second floor. By using storedbuilding automation system 4 information (e.g., settings or positions ofregister vent dampers 30 or other building automation system 4information) or other information, the building automation controller 18or other controller may adjust or provide a recommendation to adjust oneor more settings (e.g., to adjust a register vent damper 30 setting,change a fan setting of the HVAC system to one of an on mode, an offmode, an auto mode, and a circulation mode, change a position of awindow treatment) for a sub-zone or micro-zone within one or more of thefirst macro-zone and the second macro-zone that may be considered to bemore effective than another option based on the stored buildingautomation system 4 information. In some instances, a micro-zone may beestablished to compensate for a hot spot or cool spot within themacro-zone and/or to allow a user to adjust a comfort level of only aportion of a larger zone.

As discussed, the building automation controller 18 or other controllersmay adjust or provide instructions or recommendations for adjustingindividual register vent dampers in one or more zones of a building 2.In one example, the building automation controller 18 may be configuredto adjust and/or determine a first recommended setting for one or moreregister vent dampers 30 (e.g., manually adjustable and/orelectronically controllable register vent dampers) that service a firstzone of the building 2 and a second recommended setting for one or moreregister vent dampers 30 (e.g., manually adjustable and/orelectronically controllable register vent dampers) that service a secondzone of the building 2 based, at least in part, on stored buildingautomation system 4 information and/or other information.

The controllers of or in communication with the HVAC system maycontinually monitor the impact of suggested and/or implementedadjustments on a performance of the HVAC system (e.g., vent dampers 30settings, fan 21 settings, etc.). In response to the monitoring of theHVAC system, the controllers of or in communication with the HVAC systemmay (optionally) automatically adjust settings of the HVAC components 6and/or recommend or suggest changes to settings of the HVAC components6. In some cases, the controllers of the HVAC system may learn from themonitoring of the HVAC system settings and the effect of those settingson a conditioned space, such that the controllers of or in communicationwith the HVAC system may provide improved suggestions over time.

In one example of controllers of or in communication with an HVAC systemthat monitor adjustments to the settings of HVAC components and theassociated effect on a comfort level of a conditioned space, if any, thecontrollers may suggest through the user interface 46 that a user closesall vent dampers 30 in a basement, the user set all of the vent dampers30 on a middle level to a 50% open position, and leave all vent dampers30 on the upper level fully open. The user then may indicate through theuser interface 46 that such suggested changes were made. In the example,the controllers of or in communication with the HVAC system may noticethe user changed a sleeping temperature when the HVAC system was in acooling mode to a higher setting. The controllers of or in communicationwith the HVAC system may then conclude that the suggested changes and/orchanges made were successful and potentially resulted in energy savingsdue to the allowed higher temperature when the system was in a coolingmode. The controllers (e.g., via the remote system 36) may then push thesuggested HVAC component 6 settings (e.g., settings of vent dampers 30)to other buildings (e.g., homes) in a community around the monitoredbuilding. Additionally, or alternatively, the controllers may store thesuggested HVAC component 6 settings for similar situations (e.g.,situations taking into account past, current, and expected futurethermodynamics of a building 2, conditions outdoors, etc.) in thefuture. In some cases, these settings may be automatically applied whensimilar environmental situations are identified in the future.

In some instances, the remote system 36 may include a remotecommunications port or block 42, where the remote communications port orblock 42 may be in communication with the processor 40 and the memory 38of the remote system 36, along with a local communications port or block44 of one or more building automation systems 4. The localcommunications port or block 44 may be in communication with the localcontrollers 32 and/or local sensors 34 of the register vents 26, thebuilding automation controllers 18, and/or a user interface 46 of thebuilding automation system 4. The local communications port or block 44may be a part of or may be a separate device from one or more of thelocal controllers 32 of the register vents 30, the building automationcontrollers 18, the user interface 46, and/or other device or feature ofthe building automation system 4.

The remote system 36 may be a cloud based (e.g., internet connected)system that is configured to connect and/or monitor one or more HVACsystems of one or more related or unrelated buildings. In one instance,the remote system 36 may be configured to monitor the number of registerdampers in a building 2 and ensures a requisite amount of air isdelivered to one or more conditioned spaces of the building 2. In anexample and similar to as discussed above regarding centralized control,the remote system 36 may attempt to ensure 10%-70%, 20%-60%, 30%-50%, orother appropriate percentage range of the number of register vents 26 inthe building are open and fluid is flowing form an HVAC component 6through the vents 28.

Such monitoring is helpful in preventing and/or mitigating staticpressure build up in ductwork of an HVAC system of the building 2 andprotecting HVAC components 6 of the HVAC system.

In some instances, the remote system 36 may monitor previous, current,and/or anticipated outdoor conditions. Such monitoring may include, butis not limited to, monitoring temperature, humidity, solar strength,solar position, and/or other outdoor conditions. In response, at leastin part, to analyses performed on the outdoor conditions, the remotesystem 36 may suggest adjusting a position of one or more vent dampers30 to ensure proper conditioning of all areas of a conditioned space(e.g., a house). In one example, the remote system 36 may determine anexpected sun pattern will heat up a south facing side of a buildingfaster than a north facing side at a particular time and thus, theremote system 36 may suggest maintaining vent dampers 30 on the southside of the building 2 in an open position longer during the summermonths to cool the conditioned space adjacent the south side of thebuilding 2 and compensate for the predicted solar load. Alternatively,or in addition, to monitoring and/or configuring a position of the ventdampers 30, the remote system 36 may be configured to adjust one or moreHVAC related accessories and/or other accessories in the building thatmay be able to impact comfort level conditioning in a building or spacein an efficient manner. For example, the remote system 36 may suggestthat a user opens or closes shades and/or opens or closes windows inresponse to monitoring an outdoor condition. In instances where abuilding automation controller 18 is connected to or in communicationwith building accessories (e.g., window coverings, windows, etc.), theremote system 36 may communicate directly to the connected buildingaccessories to position one or more of those building accessories at aparticular setting to more efficiently operate the HVAC system in aneconomical manner while maintaining comfort for users in the building 2.In some cases, the remote system 36 may suggest turning on an auxiliaryenvironmental parameter control device (e.g. a window air conditioningunit, a wall air conditioning unit, a portable electric heater, anelectric fireplace, a portable electric fan, a ceiling fan, an electricfloor heater) to maintain comfort if appropriate. When one or moreauxiliary environmental parameter control devices can be controlled bythe remote system 36, the remote system 36 may automaticallyactive/deactivate such auxiliary environmental parameter control devicesas appropriate.

The remote system 36 may be configured to monitor past, current, and/orfuture utility rates and/or usage of gas, electric, water, etc. forand/or at the building 2. From the information obtained by monitoringutility rates and/or utility usage, the remote system 36 may communicatewith the building automation controller(s) 18 to facilitate operatingthe HVAC system at an energy efficient level while maintaining comfortfor users occupying the conditioned space. In one example, the remotesystem 36 may suggest the HVAC system utilize a lower cost HVACcomponent 6 (e.g., electric heaters) when the cost of using anassociated type of energy (electricity) is less than the cost of using adifferent type of energy (e.g., gas) for a different HVAC component(e.g., a gas furnace) that performs a similar conditioning function. Theremote system 36 may, in some cases, automatically instruct the HVACsystem to utilize a lower cost HVAC component 6 (e.g., electric heaters)when the cost of using an associated type of energy (electricity) isless than the cost of using a different type of energy (e.g., gas) for adifferent HVAC component (e.g., a gas furnace) that performs a similarconditioning function.

In some cases, the remote system 36, the building automation controller18, and/or other systems or controllers may monitor an occupancy of thebuilding 2. In one example of monitoring occupancy of the building 2,the remote system 36, the building automation controller 18, and/orother systems or controllers may utilize geofencing, an occupancysensor, and/or one or more other mechanisms providing occupancy relatedinformation and/or data to monitor and/or determine occupancy of thebuilding 2. Through monitoring occupancy of a building 2, such asthrough geofencing, the remote system 36 may suggest position settingsfor vent dampers 30 and/or other settings for HVAC components 6 toassist in limiting or minimizing cycling and/or run time of HVACcomponents 6. Cycling and/or run times may be limited or minimized byrunning heating and/or cooling operations of the HVAC system at a lowerfrequency when the building 2 or a space thereof is determined to beunoccupied. Such limiting or minimizing of cycling and/or run time ofthe HVAC components 6 may reduce the energy usage of the HVAC system,extend the life of one or more of the HVAC components 6, and/or allowzones of a zoned system to sync and operate similar to a non-zonedsystem. Geofencing may be particularly useful when HVAC components 6that may be slower to condition a space to a set point (e.g., hydronics)are utilized for conditioning a space because the crossing of a geofencecan be utilized to turn the HVAC component 6 on in sufficient time, oruse additional HVAC components 6 to assist in reaching the desired setpoint before the space is expected to be occupied.

Geofencing is a term used to refer to sensing locations of an individualor device (e.g. via a location aware device) with respect to ageographically defined fence that is established a particular distancefrom the building. When an individual or device leaves the building andadvances to a position outside of the particular distance from thebuilding, the location aware device may detect that the user has crossedthe geofence and is leaving for some time. Once a user exits thegeofence, the building automation controller 18 may be configured tomodify the operation of one or more HVAC components 6 (e.g., to a nooccupancy profile). When an individual or device is returning to thebuilding and advances to a position inside of the particular distancefrom the building, the location aware device may detect that the userhas crossed the geofence and is returning home. Once a user enters thegeofence, the building automation controller 18 may be configured tomodify the operation of one or more HVAC components 6 (e.g., to anoccupied profile).

In some instances, a system of the building automation system 4 (e.g.,remote system 36 or other system) may be configured to create a model ofone or more spaces of a building 2 to be controlled with a developedHVAC system configuration created by the remote system 36.Illustratively, a processing module (e.g., the processor 40 of theremote system 36 or processor of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, or other computing device) may be configured to execute one ormore sets of instructions stored in memory (e.g., the memory 38) todevelop an HVAC system configuration for the modeled space(s) of thebuilding 2. Through a user interacting with the remote system 36 via aweb portal or other user interface accessible via the user interface 46(e.g., a user interface of a thermostat, a mobile application, a website, a PC application, thermostat screen, etc. accessible on a mobilephone, a tablet, laptop computer, or other computing device) of thebuilding automation system 4, an HVAC system configuration forcontrolling one or more environmental parameters of the one or morespaces of a building 2 may be developed by the processor 40 of theremote system 36. As an alternative to or in addition to using theremote system 36 to create a model of one or more spaces of a building 2to be controlled with a developed HVAC system configuration, a buildingautomation controller 18 or other electronic device with appropriatesoftware or applications executable thereon may be configured to developa model for one or more spaces of a building 2 and one or more HVACsystem configurations for those spaces. The user interface 46 may beconfigured to display the developed model for the one or more spaces ofthe building 2 and/or the one or more HVAC system configurations.

A model of a space and an HVAC system configuration for that space maybe developed by the remote system 36 or other system based on buildinginformation that at least partially defines an exterior and/or innerstructure of at least part of the building including a space to beconditioned and/or controlled, at least in part, by the developed HVACsystem configuration, which may be received via a user interface (e.g.,the user interface 46) and a communications port or block (e.g., thecommunications port or block 42). For example, a user may upload orotherwise provide building information (e.g., selection of one of two ormore building type options presented via the user interface, photographsof the interior and/or exterior of the building, a 2-dimensionalfloorplan or layout of at least part of the building, a 3-dimensionalmodel or layout of at least part of the building, building dimensions,current HVAC system confirmation information for the HVAC system of thebuilding (e.g., including, but not limited to, current locations of oneor more register vents within the building), non-HVAC deviceconfigurations, etc.) to the remote system 36 through the user interface46 and/or the remote system 36 may obtain the building information fromthe user's accounts (e.g., social media or photo sharing/storingdatabases, etc.) and/or publicly available sources. Additionally, oralternatively, controllers of an existing HVAC control system of thebuilding may automatically detect existing sensors, vent dampers, and/orHVAC or non-HVAC devices of the building and use this information indeveloping a model of the space and HVAC system. Once the buildinginformation is received, a processing module (e.g., processor 40)operatively coupled to the user interface 46 may be configured to createa model of the one or more spaces to be conditioned or controlled by asuggested or developed HVAC system configuration, where the model isdeveloped, at least in part, from the received building information.

Additionally, or alternatively, to developing the model based onbuilding information received via the user interface 46, the processormay be configured to develop the model of the one or more spaces to becontrolled and/or conditioned by the developed HVAC system based, atleast in part, on information obtained by the processor 40 of the remotesystem 36. In some cases, a user may enter instructions at the userinterface 46 for the remote system 36 to obtain publicly accessibleinformation and/or information stored in the remote system 36 thatrelates to the building 2 in which the space to be controlled and/orconditioned is located (e.g., building type information, buildingdimension, or other information). In some instances, the processor 40 ofthe remote system 36 may obtain the information from a publiclyavailable database, such as an online mapping database, online realestate databases, online tax records, online municipality records, andthe like.

In some cases, the remote system 36 may be configured to communicatewith the building automation controller 18, if the building 2 includesone, to determine what, if any, HVAC component 6 or other local devices56 are located in the building 2. If the remote system 36 detects thebuilding includes one or more HVAC components 6, the processor 40 of theremote system 36 may develop an HVAC configuration for the one or morespaces of the building 2 that may incorporate one or more of thedetected HVAC components 6 and/or takes into account one or more of thedetected local devices 56. One example of taking a detection of a localdevice 56 into account, is to develop an HVAC system configuration thatprovides a register vent 26 in a room with a stove, but does not placethe register vent behind the stove, where the local device 56 is thestove.

The HVAC system configuration developed by the remote system 36 may bedisplayed on the user interface and may include a two-dimensional and/orthree-dimensional model of the building 2 and/or the spaces of thebuilding 2 to be conditioned and/or controlled, an HVAC system layout,and suggested HVAC system products for implementing a suggested HVACsystem configuration. Additionally, or alternatively, the developed HVACsystem configuration may include one or more devices havingenvironmental parameter sensors (e.g., local sensors 34 or othersensors) and one or more register vents 26 (e.g., register vents withvent dampers), among other HVAC components 6, where the developed HVACsystem configuration may include suggestions to replace specific HVACsystem elements (e.g., a suggestion to replace a manually operated ventdamper with an electronically controllable register vent). The HVACsystem layout developed by the processor 40 may include suggested zoneconfigurations and/or positions of register vents 26 for the one or morespaces to be controlled and/or conditioned. The user interface may beconfigured to accept selection of a suggested HVAC system configurationand or purchases of suggested HVAC system products of implementing asuggested HVAC system configuration.

The HVAC system configuration for the building 2 developed by the remotesystem 36 may include one or more HVAC system configuration options. Insome cases, the remote system 36 may provide an HVAC systemconfiguration utilizing HVAC components 6 existing in a modeled space ofthe building 2 and/or a basic HVAC system configuration. In addition, oras an alternative, the remote system 36 may provide one or more advancedlevel HVAC system configurations that may increase in cost and/orcomplexity to implement. In some examples, the advanced level HVACsystem configurations may include cost estimates and/or time estimatesto implement the proposed advanced level HVAC system configuration inthe modeled space, along with estimated benefits of the advanced levelHVAC system configurations including, but not limited to, energyconservation, increased comfort, and/or potential utility cost savings.In some instances, the HVAC system configuration for the building 2 thatis developed by the remote system 36 may include an ability to order oneor more HVAC components 6 of the developed HVAC system via the userinterface 46.

In operation, a method of developing an HVAC system configuration for anHVAC system of a building may include accepting building information viaa user interface of a computing device, where the accepted informationat least partially defines or provides access to information defining aninner structure of at least part of the building. Such information mayinclude current HVAC system configuration information for the HVACsystem of the building. In one instance, the current HVAC systemconfiguration information may include, among other information, acurrent location of one or more register vents within the building.Based, at least in part, on the accepted building information, aprocessor may determine one or more suggested HVAC system configurationfor the building and the suggested one or more HVAC systemconfigurations may be displayed via the user interface. In some cases, asuggested HVAC system configuration may be accepted or rejected andproducts for implementing an accepted suggested HVAC systemconfiguration may be purchased via the user interface.

FIG. 6 depicts example features that may be included in various levelsof HVAC configurations that the remote system 36 or other device maydevelop for a modeled spaced. For example, LEVEL 1 may include a typicalthermostat (e.g., a building automation controller 18) that may allowfor control of temperature, fan operation, humidity, and/or ventilationof an HVAC system. LEVEL 2 may include an internet connected thermostat(e.g., a thermostat that may be able to access the remote system 36and/or wired or wirelessly connected local devices 56), all of thefeatures of LEVEL 1, remote control of the thermostat from a computingdevice (e.g., mobile phone, laptop computer, desktop computer, tabletcomputer, etc.), alerts to the thermostat and/or a computing device(e.g., remote alerts), where the alerts may include, but are not limitedto, temperature alerts if temperature in a space increases above ordecreases below one or more threshold levels, humidity alerts ifhumidity in a space increases above or decreases below one or morethreshold levels, connection lost alerts if the thermostat losesinternet connection, and/or replacement alerts if an HVAC component 6needs replacement (e.g., filter replacement alerts, etc.). LEVEL 3 mayinclude an internet connected thermostat, remote control of thethermostat from a computing device, wired or wireless space/zonesensors, all of the features of LEVEL 2, along with the ability for thethermostat (or a remote system 36 connected to the thermostat) toperform thermodynamics by one or more rooms and/or spaces of a building2. The thermodynamics analyses may analyze, among other parameter data,temperature data, humidity data, air quality data, etc., and providerecommendations for HVAC component 6 settings, including, but notlimited to manually implemented settings for fans, dampers 24 (e.g.,duct-line dampers and/or vent dampers 30), window treatments, and/orvarious other devices that may affect comfort level conditioning in themonitored zones or spaces and may be manually adjustable. LEVEL 4 mayinclude an internet connected thermostat, remote control of thethermostat from a computing device, wired or wireless space/zonesensors, vent dampers 30, all of the features of LEVEL 3, along withautomated comfort control of fan operation, temperature, humidity, airquality, and/or other comfort level conditioning affecting parameters.With LEVEL 4 the thermodynamics analyses may be utilized to selectivelyand/or automatically establish set points and/or control over the fanoperation, temperature set points, humidity set points, air qualitycontrol components, and/or other components configured to affect comfortlevel conditions of the zones or spaces. LEVEL 5 may include an internetconnected thermostat, remote control of the thermostat from a computingdevice, wired or wireless space/zone sensors, vent dampers 30,automation of one or more local devices 56 (e.g., window treatments,windows, portable heating/cooling components, locks, lights, sound,water faucets, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, etc.), and all of thefeatures of LEVEL 4. The thermodynamics analyses in a LEVEL 5 system maybe utilized to selectively and/or automatically establish set pointsand/or control over local devices 56 including, but not limited to,window treatments, windows, portable heating/cooling components, locks,lights, sound, water faucets, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, etc.

Although examples of five levels of HVAC system configuration componentsare described above, other components may be included or excluded at anyof the levels of HVAC system configurations in view of a modeled spaceto be comfort level conditioned and/or in view of other considerations.For example, if a space is already conditioned based on components of aLEVEL 3 configuration described above, a level 3 configuration may be abaseline configuration and one or more levels (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10,20, and so on) of HVAC system configuration components may be providedto a user that may be used to incrementally decrease energy consumption.Illustratively, if a space is already conditioned with an HVAC systemconfiguration that is substantially completely automated, a suggestednext level of HVAC system configuration componentry may includesuggesting a user utilize renewable energy to reduce energy consumptionby the HVAC system configuration through incorporating one or more ofsolar panels, geothermal heating/cooling, etc. into the HVAC systemconfiguration of the comfort level conditioned space. In some cases, aplurality of HVAC system configuration options are provided, sorted bythe expected cost/benefit for each option.

Having thus described several illustrative embodiments of the presentdisclosure, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that yetother embodiments may be made and used within the scope of the claimshereto attached. Numerous advantages of the disclosure covered by thisdocument have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will beunderstood, however, that this disclosure is, in many respect, onlyillustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters ofshape, size, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of thedisclosure. The disclosure's scope is, of course, defined in thelanguage in which the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An HVAC control system for controlling an HVACsystem of a building, the HVAC control system comprising: acommunications block for receiving sensed data from each of two or moresensing devices located at different spaced sensor locations within thebuilding; a controller operatively coupled to the communications block,the controller configured to receive the sensed data from thecommunications block, and based at least in part on the received senseddata, determine a recommended setting change to the HVAC control system;and a user interface operatively coupled to the controller fordisplaying the recommended setting change.
 2. The HVAC control system ofclaim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store an indicator ofthe sensor location of each of the two or more sensing devices withinthe building, and wherein the controller is configured to determine therecommended setting change to the HVAC control system based at least inpart on the received sensed data and the stored indicators of the sensorlocations for the two or more sensing devices within the building. 3.The HVAC control system of claim 2, wherein the HVAC system includes twoor more registers located at different spaced register locations withinthe building, wherein the memory is further configured to store anindicator of the register location of each of the two or more registerswithin the building, and wherein the controller is further configured todetermine the recommended setting change to the HVAC control systembased at least in part on the received sensed data, the storedindicators of the sensor locations, and the stored indicators of theregister locations.
 4. The HVAC control system of claim 3, wherein atleast some of the two or more registers are manually adjustable by auser to change air flow characteristics of the register, and wherein therecommended setting change includes a recommended manual adjustment toone or more of the manually adjustable registers.
 5. The HVAC controlsystem of claim 1, wherein the recommended setting change includes arecommendation to incorporate an electronically controllable register tothe HVAC system of the building at a specified location.
 6. The HVACcontrol system of claim 1, wherein the recommended setting changeincludes a recommendation to change a fan setting of the HVAC system toone of an on mode, an off mode, an auto mode, and a circulation mode. 7.The HVAC control system of claim 1, wherein the recommended settingchange includes a recommendation to change a position of a windowtreatment of the building.
 8. The HVAC control system of claim 1,wherein at least part of the controller of the HVAC control system isimplemented remotely from the building.
 9. The HVAC control system ofclaim 8, wherein at least part of the controller of the HVAC controlsystem is implemented in the cloud.
 10. The HVAC control system of claim1, wherein the user interface is implemented as part of a thermostat ofthe HVAC control system that is located within the building.
 11. TheHVAC control system of claim 1, wherein the user interface isimplemented as part of a mobile application running on a mobile device.12. The HVAC control system of claim 1, wherein the controller of theHVAC control system is configured to determine the recommended settingchange to the HVAC control system based at least in part on an analysisof a number of thermodynamic properties of the building.
 13. The HVACcontrol system of claim 12, wherein the analysis of the number ofthermodynamic properties of the building is based at least in part onhistorical sensed data that is received from the communications block.14. A cloud server configured to communicate with a plurality of HVACsystems each in a separate building, wherein each of the plurality ofHVAC systems includes two or more spaced sensing devices and an HVACcontroller for controlling one or more HVAC components of thecorresponding HVAC system, the cloud server comprising: a communicationsblock configured to receive HVAC data from each of the plurality of HVACsystems, wherein the HVAC data includes environmental data that is basedat least in part on one or more environmental parameters sensed by thetwo or more spaced sensing devices of a corresponding HVAC system; amemory for storing the received HVAC data; a controller configured toanalyze at least part of the received HVAC data stored in the memory andto determine a recommended setting change for a first HVAC system of theplurality of HVAC systems; and the controller is further configured tooutput the recommended setting change to a user interface via thecommunications block, wherein the user interface is located remotelyfrom the cloud server.
 15. The cloud server of claim 14, wherein theuser interface is implemented as part of the HVAC controller of thefirst HVAC system or as part of a mobile application running on a mobiledevice.
 16. The cloud server of claim 14, wherein the memory is furtherconfigured to store an indicator of a sensor location for each of thetwo or more spaced sensing devices for each of the plurality of HVACsystems, and wherein the controller is configured to determine therecommended setting change for the first HVAC system based at least inpart on the received HVAC data stored in the memory and the storedindicators of the sensor locations for the two or more spaced sensingdevices of the first HVAC system.
 17. The cloud server of claim 16,wherein the first HVAC system includes two or more registers located atdifferent spaced register locations within the building serviced by thefirst HVAC system, wherein the memory is further configured to store anindicator of the register location for each of the two or more registersof the first HVAC system, and wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to determine the recommended setting change to the HVACsystem based at least in part on the received HVAC data stored in thememory, the stored indicators of the sensor locations for the two ormore spaced sensing devices of the first HVAC system, and the storedindicators of the register locations of the first HVAC system.
 18. Thecloud server of claim 17, wherein at least one of the two or moreregisters of the first HVAC system is manually adjustable by a user tochange the air flow characteristics of the register, and wherein therecommended setting change includes a recommended manual adjustment toone or more of the manually adjustable registers.
 19. The cloud serverof claim 14, wherein the recommended setting change includes arecommendation to incorporate an electronically controllable register tothe first HVAC system.
 20. A method for operating an HVAC controlsystem, comprising: collecting environmental sensor data via two or moresensing devices located at two or more identified locations within abuilding; analyzing the collected environmental sensor data inconjunction with the two or more identified locations to determine arecommended setting change to the HVAC control system; and displayingthe recommended setting change to a user via a user interface that isassociated with the HVAC control system.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the recommended setting change includes a manual adjustment toone or more manually adjustable register dampers and/or to incorporatean electronically controllable register damper to the building at aspecified location.